Like every other week, I've selected the five teams with the best hitter matchups for Week 24 (Sept. 6-12), and you'll find them listed below. But it's one of those weeks when the list could go much deeper than five, with the Braves, Indians, Tigers, Dodgers, Pirates, Giants and Mariners all having matchups nearly as good as the Royals, Orioles, Blue Jays, Rangers and Reds.
And yet for all those tasty matchups, I find this week's selection of sleeper hitters to be lacking, which makes now a good time to remind you that not all start/sit decisions are subject to what's available on your league's waiver wire. It's the reason why I reveal the best and worst matchups every week, ensuring you're not totally in the dark when it comes to the endless lineup possibilities that I couldn't possibly address one by one.
Among the hitters rostered in less than 80 percent of CBS Sports leagues, though, here are my favorites for Week 24 (Sept. 6-12).
The matchups could be better, but he does get three games at home at least. Then again, Brendan Rodgers has been the rare Rockies hitter who has actually performed better on the road, which is part of the reason I love the potential.
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He just reached the 30-homer threshold and ranks among the NL leaders in RBI. He's a bit hit-or-miss, but the matchups are good enough to bet on him this week.
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He seems to be heating up again and started the last time two times the Giants faced a lefty. There are only two of those on the schedule this week. Meanwhile, there are three games at Coors Field.
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He might be No. 1 on this list if there was even a single lefty on the schedule (his splits favor them), but the Indians do have quality matchups nonetheless. Plus, Amed Rosario is coming off a scorching hot month of August.
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The 34-year-old has been piling up multi-hit games recently, bringing his batting average up near .300, and it's well over .300 against lefties this year. The Athletics have four of those on the schedule this week.
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After going cold in August, he's finding his power stroke again early in September. The Reds have the fifth-best matchups this week and are in line to face three lefties, against whom he has an OPS near .850.
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A couple home runs at the start of September offer some hope the rookie has shaken off the rust after his IL stint, and with only one lefty on the schedule, he's a good bet to stay in the lineup.
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The Orioles are one of two teams scheduled for eight games this week and have the second-best hitter matchups overall. Seems like a good time for Anthony Santander's production to pick up again, though all the lefties on the schedule won't help.
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You shouldn't expect any power from Nicky Lopez, but the Royals are shifting Adalberto Mondesi over to third base just to keep him in the lineup. They have the best hitter matchups of any team this week, so you can expect more multi-hit games and perhaps some stolen bases.
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The upside may be only so high for Nick Solak, but he's looked good enough since returning from the minors that he's worth a shot with these matchups.
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Best hitter matchups for Week 24
1. Royals @BAL4, @MIN3
2. Orioles KC4, TOR4
3. Blue Jays @NYY4, @BAL4
4. Rangers @LAA1, @ARI2, @OAK3
5. Reds @CHC3, @STL3
Worst hitter matchups for Week 24
1. Padres LAA2, @LAD3
2. Angels TEX1, @SD2, @HOU3
3. Red Sox TB3, @CHW3
4. Cardinals LAD4, CIN3
5. Marlins NYM3, @ATL3
